Transmission: The Sheldon

In this episode, we stumble (briefly) into Nebraska, wrestle with why some art feels heavy while still being honest, and end up naming one of our most familiar patterns: The Sheldon.

You know the one, hyper-literal, head-down, problem-solving mode that forgets there are humans in the room.

From there, the conversation widens. We talk about how we each relate to music differently, how attention quietly shapes our experience of work and rest, and why noticing our patterns matters more than trying to eliminate them. We reflect on vacation re-entry, stress data that surprised us, and the difference between being focused and being available.

Along the way, we explore:

• Why Nebraska didn’t make Monnica’s Top 25 (and why that’s okay)
• Naming patterns as a way to soften them, not judge them
• Attention as a superpower, and what hijacks it
• Perfectionism, self-compassion, and recovering when your mind wanders at the worst possible moment
• Small practices that help us come back to where our feet are

No fixes. No five-step plans. Just a curious look at how our minds work, and a gentle invitation to notice where yours goes this week.

As always:

May your coffee be strong, and your conversations stronger ☕️

Learning Their Names

This transmission is about awareness turning into understanding.

Last week, Brad and Monnica set a simple intention: notice more. This week, they take the next step—recognizing patterns as they show up in real time, in conversations, relationships, work, and internal reactions we usually run on autopilot.

They explore how patterns form as protective strategies, why they once served us, and what happens when they quietly start running the show. Through reflections on listening, editing, family dynamics, leadership habits, and emotional self-regulation, they unpack the difference between what actually happens and the meaning we assign to it.

This episode weaves together:

• how slowing down changes conversations
• why assumptions create unnecessary inner conflict
• the power of separating fact from interpretation
• and what it looks like to stay curious instead of defensive

They also connect these ideas to music, attention, and the brain’s default mode, drawing inspiration from How to Be a Human Being by Glass Animals and setting up a deeper dive into focus and awareness in the weeks ahead.

This isn’t about fixing patterns or stopping them. It’s about naming them.

Because when you learn their names, you gain just enough space to choose differently.

And sometimes, that space changes everything.

Recorded on the final night of a family vacation in Ko Olina, Hawaii, this transmission is a little different.

No studio. No vinyl. Just a walk along the water and an honest conversation about pacing, recovery, and how we actually sustain a full life.

Brad and Monnica reflect on the idea of aid stations - those intentional pauses that make endurance possible. In racing, in work, in marriage, and in life. They talk about rest that actually restores, why meaningful work can lower stress more than disengagement, and how seasons of intensity require equally intentional recovery.

There’s laughter, a few detours, a hi/lo from the week, and a quiet realization: you don’t accidentally get renewed - you plan for it.

If you’re heading into a demanding season, or coming out of one, this episode is a reminder that stopping isn’t quitting. Sometimes it’s the strategy.

Mahalo for listening.